Thread protector



May 23, 1939. J, KAHN Er AL 2,159,929

THREAD PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 24, 1936 'INVENTOR. Janus KA/m BY W44 75-5 A Sci/.442.

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT or es THREAD PROTECTOR Application November 24, 1936, Serial No. 112,545

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to thread protectors, and more specifically to improvements in metal sleeves or cups for shielding the threaded end portion of pipes, tubes, and similar machined products of manufacture.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a sheet metal cap having a plurality of reinforcing corrugations or beads in the circumferential wall thereof and a locking mechanism coordinated with such corrugations for the retaining of the cap upon the threaded end of a pipe.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cap which may be readily formed by blanking and forming dies and then assembled upon the end of a pipe without the necessity of further machine work thereon or the use of special assembling tools.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for the protection of the thread.- ed end of a pipe which is economical of manufacture, durable, and susceptible of ready assembly.

Other objects more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all of the various objects and advantages are obtained, will become apparent from a more complete examination of the following specifications and claims wherein there is assembled and pointed out certain combinations of parts and specific instructions indicative of the scope and spirit of the invention.

In the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partially in section of a threaded pipe end having the improved thread protector cap mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the cap illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partially in section of a pipe and thread protector of modified form; Fig. 4 is an end or elevational view thereof;

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the threaded end portion of the pipe 10 is encased within a cylindrical cap or sleeve II, the inner periphery of which is formed slightly larger than the threads or end of the pipe to facilitate the application of a felt or fabric packing material l2, intermediate the threads and the inner periphery of the cap. The cap I I is die-struck from a flat sheet metal blank and formed in semicircular sections, with tongues i3 and notches I4 in the respective free ends thereof. In forming the blanks the sheet metal is pierced to provide apertures l1 and IS in the tabs adjacent the notch l4 and apertures l9 and 20 in the tongue portion l3. In the forming operation corrugations or ribs 2| and 22 are pressed into the walls of the cap sections, the disposition thereof being equidistant the ends of each section and intermediate the apertures I! and l8, l9 and 20 so as to form continuous annular ribs with longitudinally aligned apertures, when the sections are arranged in assemble-d relation.

The inner peripheral edge of each of the sections is turned downwardly through a 90 angle to form an end protecting flange 23. The cup sections are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 with the tongues I3 within the grooves l4, and while in this position, tapered strips or wedge plates 24 are driven through the apertures H, H, 20'

and I8 to secure the cup sections in locked relation, and at the same time draw the cup sections together to intimately engage upon the threaded end of the pipe.

As will be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the thread protector is constructed from a single stamping pressed in the configuration of an annulus. One of the end portions of the ring is formed with a togue While in the other end thereof there is a notch 5| of suitable size to permit the reentrant engagement of the tongue therein. The ring blank is pierced with apertures 52, 53, 5t, and which are disposed to lie in aligned relation, the apertures 52 and 55 being in the tabs or ears defining the notch 5|, while the apertures 53 and 54 are in the tongue 50. The wall of the ring is formed with corrugations or ribs 56 disposed intermediate the apertures 52, 53, 54 and 55 respectively.

To facilitate assembly of the ring upon the pipe the ribs 56 are formed with kerfs 51 therein which are preferably inclined relative the transverse sections of the rib. As in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the sleeve or cup is provided with an inturned flange 58 to protect the end portion of the pipe.

It is to be noted that the side walls of the ribs or corrugations 56 are substantially inclined to prevent the ribs from interlocking with the ribs on adjacent pipe sleeves and to permit the pipes to be shifted endwise when a number of pipes are piled for storage or loaded for shipment.

In assembly the cup is sprung over the end of the pipe, the tongue 50 being inserted within the notch 5| and with the slots 52, 53, 54 and 55 in longitudinally aligned relation. With the cap in this position a wedge or tapered plate 59 is driven through the apertures in the vertical Wall of the rib 56, and then through the apertures 54 and 55 in the second or succeeding rib. It will be readily recognized that as the tapered plate or wedge 59 is drawn inwardly through the apertures it will draw the free ends of the stamping together and clamp the cap in frictional engagement with the end of the pipe.

In both embodiments the packing material l2 may be impregnated with a lubricant to prevent rust and preserve the threaded end of the pipe during storage or shipment.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modification of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

We claim:

1. A thread protector comprising an annular split sleeve, circumferential ribs therein having interengaging portions at the free ends of said sleeve formed with axially-alined apertures and means projected through said apertures for locking the ends of the sleeve together.

2. A thread protector comprising an annular sleeve comprising two semicircular sections, interfitting tongues and notches in the free ends thereof, annular ribs in the circumferential wall thereof disposed to intersect the seam between said tongues and notches, said ribs having apertures therein disposed respectively in said tongue and the material adjacent said notches and in longitudinally aligned relation and tapered keys in said apertures for retaining said sections in assembled relation.

JULIUS KAHN. WALTER F. SCI-IULZ. 

